Survival gear is something that everybody needs whether they spend their weekend hiking through thick backwoods or always have the feeling that something terrible will happen at any minute. Because of this, it’s important to know what the best survival gear is for you and your family should you find yourself in a sticky situation. From getting lost in the woods to staying safe in the event of a worldwide disaster, manmade or otherwise, here are the essentials to ensure you come out the other side in one piece.

The Best Survival Gear

1

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

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The most essential and best survival gear available, the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter ensures you stay hydrated no matter where you are. There are 3 pack sizes available so you can buy one for you or for a group of adventurers. It removes 99.99999% of bacteria, parasites, and chlorine for safe drinking. It’s lightweight, and because it filters on-the-go, there is no pumping or batteries required. For more similar products, check out our selection of the best filtered water bottles.

Key Features:

3 pack sizes available

Filters 1000 liters

Removes 99.99999% of bacteria

Lightweight

No pumping required

Specification:

BrandLifeStraw

ModelLSPHF017

Weight2.08 ounces

2

Chareada Emergency Survival Kit

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Wirth 36 total pieces, the Chareada Emergency Survival Kit is the best value option you will find. This survival gear kit includes 16 pieces of emergency gear, 14 pieces of medical kit, and 6 piece fishing tools so you can find your dinner without a McDonald’s in sight. The kit is compact and waterproof to ensure you can survive a variety of conditions, and despite its comprehensive inventory, it’s still lightweight. You may also find useful some of the best paracord survival bracelets from our list, so check them out.

Key Features:

36 in 1 kit total

16 piece emergency survival kit

14 piece medical kit

6 piece fishing tools

Compact and waterproof

Specification:

BrandCHAREADA

Weight2.2 pounds

3

Swiss Safe Emergency Thermal Blanket

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Keeping warm is an essential part of survival and the Swiss Safe Emergency Thermal Blanket keeps you and your party toasty and comfortable when the temperatures drop. This option comes with 4 emergency blankets so you don’t have to share, with dual-sided aluminized mylar helps retain 90% of your body heat to prevent shivers. They are both durable and lightweight, too, so they won’t weigh down your pack too much.

Key Features:

Pack of 4

Dual-sided aluminized mylar

Lightweight

Durable

Keeps 90% of body heat

Specification:

BrandSwiss Safe

Weight9.9 ounces

4

Don’t Die In The Woods World’s Toughest Ultralight Survival Tent

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Sometimes, there’s no need for subtlety, and the Don’t Die In The Woods World’s Toughest Ultralight Survival Tent understands that more than anything else we’ve selected. This solo tent is easy to set up and durable, with reinforced seams, and by measuring 8 x 5 feet, there’s plenty of space for you and your backpack to stay safe underneath during the night. It’s tear-resistant and comes with a 425-pound strength paracord to ensure longevity.

Key Features:

Tear-resistant

425 pound strength paracord

Ultralight

8×5 feet

Reinforced seams

Specification:

BrandDon’t Die In The Woods

Weight9.6 ounces

5

CVLIFE Military Tactical Backpack

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Military survival gear is always useful for staying safe in any situation and the CVLIFE Military Tactical Backpack comes with a choice of 6 colors, but what’s really great about it is the water-resistant Molle system material and multiple compartments. These help you store everything you need for a day or a week in the woods, while the durable zips ensure everything stays secure. For more durable bags like this, check out our selection of the best backpacking backpacks.

Key Features:

6 colors

Water-resistant

Detachable compartment

Large main compartment

Molle system

Specification:

BrandCVLIFE

Weight4 pounds

6

RoverTac 14 in 1 Multitool

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With either red or green options to pick from, the RoverTac 14 in 1 Multitool is an excellent all-in-one choice for an adventure into a survival situation. It’s a compact tool kit with heavy-duty stainless steel parts to ensure excellent durability, but this multitool is still lightweight enough to make it easy to carry through a variety of situations. The blade is foldable for easy storage and it’s also sharp enough to adapt your environment to help you.

Key Features:

Compact toolkit

Heavy-duty stainless steel

Easy to carry

Emergency hammer included

Foldable blade

Specification:

BrandRoverTac

Weight14.9 ounces

7

Garmin GPSMAP Receiver

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For the premium pick, the Garmin GPSMAP Receiver is the most essential piece of survival gear you’ll ever need. It comes with an easy to read 2.6-inch color display that’s readable in any type of light. The high-sensitivity GPS and GLONASS functions ensure it’s easy to find your way should you get lost, and with an 8GB memory and 250,000 preloaded caches, the chances of you finding your way home significantly increase.

Key Features:

2.6 inch color display

Sunlight-readable

8GB internal memory

High-sensitivity GPS and GLONASS

250,000 preloaded caches

Specification:

BrandGarmin

Model010-01199-20

Weight9.3 ounces

8

KCCEDGE Tactical Survival Knife Set

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With 6 knives in total, the KCCEDGE Tactical Survival Knife Set gives you a bit of everything for a range of different needs when lost in the woods. These are EDC knives, so while they are effective, they’re not too large that it feels cumbersome carrying them around. The stainless steel blade is razor-sharp right out of the box, and the rope handle grips prevent slippage when using them.

Key Features:

6-piece

Multi-use

EDC suitable

Stainless steel blade

Razor sharp cutting

Specification:

BrandKCCEDGE BEST CUTLERY SOURCE

Weight13.1 ounces

9

TG Plasma Lighter

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You will always need to create fire in survival situations whether to cook food or stay warm, and the TG Plasma Lighter is the perfect way to ensure you can ignite wherever you are. The 220mAh battery takes just two hours to charge and the button activation prevents the endless scrolling of regular lighter igniters. It’s both wind and waterproof and won’t suffer from weather damage like your standard lighters, meaning there is always potential for fire wherever you are.

Key Features:

Silicone black casing

220mAh Lithium polymer battery

2 hour charge time

Button activated

Wind and waterproof

Specification:

BrandTG

Weight3.5 ounces

10

iRonsnow Solar Emergency NOAA Weather Radio

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This versatile iRonsnow Solar Emergency NOAA Weather Radio is ideal for when disaster strikes and you need to keep up to date with everything happening on the outside world. Besides a radio, it also has 3 LED lights to illuminate the house, and you can charge it either by cranking, using solar power or using a USB charging port. This emergency radio is lightweight, easy to carry, and easy to use.

Key Features:

Compact

3 LED flashlight

Multiple ways to charge

Easy to carry

Lightweight

Specification:

BrandiRonsnow

ModelTS-IS-088-R

Weight7.2 ounces

11

Eyeskey Multifunctional Military Lensatic Tactical Compass

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Those with a bad sense of direction will adore how the Eyeskey Multifunctional Military Lensatic Tactical Compass makes it easy to navigate through even the densest woodland. It’s both waterproof and shockproof, which ensures high performance and durability and you’ll also find it easy to read, even if you’ve never used a compass before. Along with the compass, you also get plenty of additional features, including a chart for angle and gradient conversion.

Key Features:

2 colors

Waterproof and shockproof

Easy and accurate readings

Clear night reading

Variety of features

Specification:

BrandEyeskey

ModelEK1001G

Weight9.6 ounces

12

Gear Aid Paracord and Carabiner

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The Gear Aid Paracord and Carabiner is another versatile option, even if it just looks like a length of rope to some of you. You can choose either 100 feet or 30 feet sizes, and design traps, create a shelter, or secure gear with reliability thanks to the heavy-duty 7-strand nylon. There’s also a carabiner attachment, which adds further functionality to something that looks so simple on the surface.

Key Features:

2 sizes

4 colors

Heavy-duty 7-strand nylon

Multipurpose

Easy carabiner attachment

Specification:

BrandGear Aid

Model80670

Weight0.8 ounces

13

MECO Hand Cranking Rechargeable Flashlight

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While batteries run out of juice and die, the MECO Hand Cranking Rechargeable Flashlight ensures this will never happen/ the built-in rechargeable battery means you’ve always got a light source, and with high conversion efficiency, you can keep lighting the way wherever you go and you can get an hour’s light from just 6 minutes of cranking. This rechargeable flashlight is durable and comes with a carabiner clip for easy carrying, too.

Key Features:

Built-in rechargeable battery

High conversion efficiency

Durable

Carabiner clip

6 minute crank for 1 hour of light

Specification:

BrandMECO

ModelME-HCF

Weight3.04 ounces

14

Wise Owl Outfitters Hammock

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If you don’t want to sleep on a pile of leaves while hiking through the jungle, this Wise Owl Outfitters Hammock is the perfect solution. There are two sizes, single and double, and 8 colors to choose from that will help you blend into your environment. This hammock comprises heavy-duty 210T parachute nylon which can support up to 500 pounds. The straps are included, and it’s easy to set up as long as you have two trees nearby.

Key Features:

2 sizes

8 colors

Heavy-duty 210T parachute nylon

Lightweight and compact

Fast and easy setup

Specification:

BrandWise Owl Outfitters

15

Ka-Bar Tactical Spork

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The Ka-Bar Tactical Spork is all you need to ensure you get your daily sustenance no matter how bleak your prospects appear. It’s a 2-in-1 cutlery set that boasts a sturdy polymer plastic handle on both knife and spork that is durable. It’s safe for survival food and also detergent, while the lightweight design means it won’t bulk up your backpack during your adventures.

Key Features:

2-in-1 cutlery

Sturdy polymer plastic

Food and detergent safe

Lightweight

Serrated knife blade

Specification:

BrandKa-Bar

Model9909

Weight2.08 ounces

16

Glow Mind Ultra Bright Glow Sticks

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Glow sticks are suitable for more than just raves and Glow Mind Ultra Bright Glow Sticks are vital for your wild adventures if you want to stay safe. You can invest in a pack of 12 or a pack of 100, with other pack sizes in between, and there are also dual-color sets available. These glow sticks provide 12 hours of light and also boast a 4-year shelf life.

Key Features:

12 to 100 pack available

2 color sets

Over 12-hour luminousness

4 year shelf life

Waterproof and non-toxic

Specification:

BrandGlow Mind

Weight12 ounces

17

Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet

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The Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet boasts a 3.5” blade that is safe to use and durable, with easy portability and an ergonomic non-slip rubber handle. It’s ideal for small chopping tasks, but you could also use it to protect yourself when deep in the woods. For more quality blades like this, check out our guide to the best wood axes.

Key Features:

3.5” blade

Easy portability

Full tang

Ergonomic non-slip rubber

Mildew-resistant nylon sheath

Specification:

BrandGerber

Model31-002070

Weight1.54 pounds

18

Dizaul Portable Solar Charger

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Even though you shouldn’t want to be fixed to your smartphone while hiking, the Dizaul Portable Solar Charger means you can keep it charged for emergencies or taking pictures. The 5000mAH capacity allows for at least a single battery charge, and the solar-powered design means you’ll never run out of juice. The anti-skid casing keeps this solar charger safe and there’s also a carry hook for easy portability.

Key Features:

5000mAh

Eco-friendly silicone rubber

Anti-skid protection

Shockproof

Water-resistant

Carry hook included

Specification:

BrandDizaul

ModelB00YOP7LV8

Weight5.3 ounces

19

Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter

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The Gerber Bear Grylls Fire Starter is compact and easy to use so you can feel confident you’ll be able to stay warm for one more night at the least. There’s a waterproof storage compartment for tinder, and rescue instructions included so you know what to do, while the attached emergency whistle can draw attention to you wherever you are. A truly high-quality fire starter.

Key Features:

Compact design

Lanyard

Emergency whistle

Waterproof storage compartment

Land to Air rescue and SOS instructions

Specification:

BrandGerber

Model3208

Weight3.52 ounces

20

Motusamare Tactical Belt

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Our final pick of the best survival gear is the tough and versatile Motusamare Tactical Belt. It comes with a quick-release buckle and uses 1000D nylon construction to support your EDC essentials, without risking fraying or wear and tear. While it’s perfect for survival, you can also wear it in everyday life, too.